DEEJAY Xmasters World Rookie Fest 2018

DEEJAY Xmasters World Rookie Fest 2018

What Went Down at DEEJAY Xmasters World Rookie Fest 2018?

The 13th Livigno DEEJAY Xmasters World Rookie Fest 2018 event was, once again, spectacular. Mottolino Snowpark hosted riders from 11 different nations. On the day, 100 riders were warmly received and ready to showcase their sickest skills. Despite heavy snow fall and low hanging clouds dominating the park for two days, the snowboarding gods smiled upon the riders on the day and gave us some much needed sun. A rookies and groms training day went down on the Tuesday, which was then followed by a a double round final on Wednesday. Always expect the unexpected at these rookie events, because these riders aim to prove why they deserve a spot with the snowboarding pros. Some rookies landed tricks that would leave many pros speechless. The groms have strengthened my faith in the future of snowboarding, as every grom displayed their own unique style of riding.

Image: Ania Grzelka, Mottolino Snowpark

Top Scorers of the Day

The day kicked off with an electrifying rookie girls division. Here Annika Morgan (GER) managed to outscore both Finnish riders; Inna Puhakka and Evelina Taka. The grom girls left all they had to give in the snow, where Mia Brookes’ (GRB) scorecard reigned supreme. Elena Schutz (SUI) and Evy Poppe (BEL) earned the well-deserved 2nd and 3rd place. After the girl’s final run, the grom boys were set to start. No love was lost in the bout between William Mathisen (SWE) and Alessandro Lotorto (SUI) for 1st place. Mathisen showed himself to be the superior grom with a score of 82,5. Lukas Frischhut (AUT) had two exceptional runs that earned him the 3rd place on the podium. An impressive score of 85,3 had Baldur Vilhelmsson (ISL) in 1st place in the rookie division. Nick Punter (SUI) and Noah Vicktor (GER), also rookies, went home at 2nd and 3rd.

Rookie boys, Image: Ania Grzelka

Rookie girls, Image: Ania Grzelka

Grom boys, Image: Ania Grzelka

Grom girls, Image: Ania Grzelka

Coming Up Next…

The next stop on the Rookie Tour will take us to the one and only USA. Get ready for some epic slopestyle action at USASA Grom Fest on the 10th of February 2018 in Keystone, USA. Then we’ll travel to the beautiful Pila resort in Italy for the Valle d’Aosta Rookie Fest. This event will further satisfy your slopestyle needs from 21st-25th February 2018. Nekoma, Japan will then host a slopestyle event on the 3rd of March 2018 at the Indy Park Rookie Fest. Lastly, the World Rookie Finals will be from the 10th-16th April 2018 at, Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria with both halfpipe and slopestyle events.

Anticipation around halfpipe and slopestyle awesomeness is enough to leave any rider drooling, so watch this blog space for more on this year’s World Rookie Tour.